KOTA KINABALU, May 7 (Sin Chew Daily) — Aids pour in to help a nursery gutted in a fire in Tuaran as volunteers donate cash, food, drinks, gas stove while some turn up at the nursery to buy plants and flower racks to show their support.

Nursery owner Gan was away when the fire gutted his nursery and his home next to it at 11 am on April 28.

His immediate neighbor, Borneo Eco-House posted on Facebook about the fire and appealed for help on behalf of Gan.

Many visited Gan's nursery to buy gardening tools, flower racks, pots and plants from him in a show of support. Some have even left behind cash donations.

Gan switched to operating a nursery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and used up all his money for the nursery he started merely nine months ago.

As his business was catching up recently, he bought some new stocks just before the nursery was razed by the fire in just ten minutes.

Gan is grateful for the help extended by Jeffrey Soo, owner of Borneo Eco-House, by raising awareness on Facebook.

His part-time worker also brought more than ten people to help him clean up the nursery after the fire.

"I managed to operate the following day after the fire. That's amazing. People come to the nursery. They just buy whatever left there. I am grateful to Soo and everyone else," he said.

As a result, he still had some cash to get by.

Gan has set up a small tent beside the nursery as his makeshift home with water and electricity supply, while trying to solve the fund issue.

The help extended to him has motivated him to restart his business.

"I will not forget those who have helped me," he said.